Impersonating Anonymous: Is It State Sponsored Terrorism?

The re-release by AnonSolutions was accompanied by efforts to spread the video on various websites and Facebook groups… while missing most of the key communications hubs of those associated with Anonymous. This botched release suggested the poster was not familiar with Anonymous. Throw away accounts have been used in a similar way on Wikipedia by NGO staff trying to manipulate their own pages, presumably after being asked to do so by management. There is an obvious difference between a member of an online community and an interloper. This video comes from an interloper.

This was not the first anti-Israel video claiming to be from Anonymous. There were two others incident periods last year. The more recent was in November. The videos released last year bear a strikingly similar in style, message and production to this latest video. They may even have been a trial run. If so, the repeated use of different throw away accounts over an extended period suggests organizational backing and indicated the timing of the release may have indeed been deliberately planned.

This brings us back to the contents of the video itself. It includes a long list of anti-Semitic tropes, from control of the media (“the propaganda that you circulate through the main stream media”) and of world governments (“and lobby through the political establishment”), to accusations of “Zionist bigotry” and inherent cruelty (“you laugh while planning your next attack”). Perhaps most telling is the claim that “so long as your regime exists, peace shall be hindered”, a call for the destruction of the State of Israel which is later repeated (“You are unworthy to exist in your current form”). The video includes a version of the Livingstone Formulation, claiming the State of Israel “label[s] all who refuse to comply with your superstitious demands as Anti-Semitic, and have taken steps to ensure a nuclear holocaust.” The claim seeks to shield criticism of Iran’s genocidal nuclear aims from criticism of being anti-Semitic, while trying to inverse the charge and point it at Israel.

This effort to subvert Anonymous to Iran’s cause may be the work of an individual anti-Israel activist or the Iranian proxy Hamas. However, the timing, linguistics, method of release and method of promotion are all a little too consistent with Iranian interests. The mix of skill impersonating previous Anonymous videos, coupled with the lack of understanding about Anonymous and the online ecosystem, not to mention the persistence, all add credence to the state sponsorship theory. Of course it is Anonymous itself that is best placed to trace this back to its source.

Efforts have been made to turn Anonymous against Israel before, but they tend to be rejected fairly swiftly in any discussion. Those who oppose Internet regulation, who believe in civil disobedience and value debate, are likely to find much they agree with in Israel’s hyper democracy. They are likely to respect her for maintaining those values despite the pressures of war, terrorism, and threats of genocide. Anonymous has no quarrel with Israel, to argue otherwise is to ignore the values that bring members of Anonymous together, or to admit ignorance of the State of Israel, a young country built on the values of innovation, cooperation and freedom.

Dr Andre Oboler holds a PhD in Computer Science from the UK and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in political science in Israel.

In the last two years some iranian based server companies have appeared offering services aimed at piracy groups in the hope of befriending and recruiting top tier programmers and coders who know remote the skills to conduct remote xploit attacks…. Unfortunately piracy groups just don`t like Iranians…. A guy i knew had a private FTP and when he was going to lease from them, half his traders said they wished to be wiped from the db for good…. Anonymous is made up of trolls and people sick of the way the internet has become corporate and politically correct….. The net was meant to be free and without guidelines…. On a lighter note……
When Muslim parents have to use the, “Open wide, here comes the airplane!” technique, do they just smash it in their face and make explosive noises?

Yeah, you are being naive. It is more likely a reference to the line in the film, “The Exorcist”. It has become a cliche in popular culture. What is more menacing then some demon possession as a foe online? Not sure they have thought it out much more than that and couldn’t really care about what it means. Nor do I honestly. The more significant concern is that younger people who romanticize a hacker may become swayed by this position against Israel. Israel has become something popular to hate. It’s being made into the new South Africa. I remember when I was moved to action and opinion when some of my favorite performers made the song “Sun City” about South African Apartheid. That was a great cause, but it seems the lessons learned from mobilizing people using cultural heros is in full effect against Israel. I don’t want some young hacker lover to be influenced by people claiming to be these guys, and then be further influenced to participate in something silly online.

Honestly, I already knew that it was a reference to something demonic, and the ” The exorcist” took it from the bible , and it’s the same principle. I just didn’t want to publicly accuse them in case I was wrong. But it is important because it shows their character. It’s nice that they haven’t come after Israel, but they often use strong arm tactics and blackmail. And no I don’t laud what all these governments whose private info they reveal are doing. But their are innocent people hurt, and also how would they like it if I used private info on them, as I’m sure they have some skeletons in their closets. Would they want someone doing this to them to make inroads for their personal world views. I’m sure that I don’t always agree with their objectives .I’m not fond of putting my well being in the hands of either these hypocritical governments or them. But actually my well being is not in their hands, it is in God’s. Which is why I don’t fear them, and have little respect for their tactics that seem to imply that we should be afraid of them, or suffer the consequences. As to Israel, yes we need to represent the truth to the world, especially to the young and impressionable, so that they can know what is truly going on. What is whispered in the ear, will be shouted from the rooftops, and God will use sinful people to bring about his will and His judgments at times. But we don’t need our young people emulating terrorist Muslims, or people who are not entirely above board and ethical in their methods. Using their slogan lifted from the demoniac in the Bible shows their immaturity and lack of character. But the experience it was lifted from in the Bible had a good ending. The legion of demons were cast out, and the man who was so afflicted, was at peace and in in his sound mind.

I hope that anonymous has no idea that saying, “we are legion” sounds like a reference to what the demoniac said to Jesus. I would prefer to believe that it is only a reference to the Roman Army legions. I hope I ‘m not being naive. Would anyone in their right mind want to be identified with that? I t must be a coincidence. Perhaps they can confirm this. But they may not feel the need to. It stood out to me, though my knowledge of that period of history is limited.
At least it appears we have confirmation that they had nothing to do with this obvious fake.

I don’t think this takes into consideration the number of pro-Palestinian anti-semitic student groups active on campuses today and if not a main force in cyber attacks are probably jumping on the pile to prove what good Muslims they are; or to make their bones supporting the cause of Palestine demontsrating a hatred of Zionism and ultimately all Jews and all non-Muslims in the region.

It has been taken into account. There is an #OpFreePalestine which is where most of the activity you are speaking about occurs. That campaign, however, has different goals from this latest video. The #OpFreePalestine campaign, while very anti-Israel, almost looks sane when compared to this video and it’s demand for total destruction. An added issue is Iran’s support of Syria; #OpFreePalestine gets a lot of criticism from within the “gathering”, #OpSyria by contrast has wide support. Support for Iran, which is pretty explicit in this latest video is something even the anti-Israel student hanger-ons of Anonymous will and do largely reject.

If there is interest I may do a more detailed analysis of #OpFreePalestine, #OpSyria, and this latest video. The type of message, demand, and use (or absence) of racism would I think be interesting at least to members of the wider Anonymous collective. Despite being decentralized, there are core values to Anonymous. They are broad, but it is possible to take action that goes directly against those values. When that happens, it is possible for those who care about the “brand” to take action to correct any misconceptions in the media and to warn off members who are undermining the wider effort.